“It’s unfortunate that the statute has rotted that much,” Coun. Cheryl Ann Fritz said, after hearing a report that soft decay in the statute of the late Vera Clyke, an organist at Zion Baptist Church for more than 70 years, has penetrated to a depth of 25 cm.

The statute, located at the corner of Robie and Ford streets, has been missing its head and hands since mid-January.

“I concur with the report,” Coun. Raymond Tynes said, “but I just want to express my disappointment with the fact that statute stood there headless for a long time and it stirred up a lot of emotions.”

He also said the condition of the statute was “a hard pill to swallow” for many visitors to the area during African Heritage Month in February.

Council heard that the statute is to be removed from the site, although no date for that was indicated.